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It's been a horrific week for the shorelines. I remember many storms over the years from the Blizzard of 1978, various tropical systems, the Perfect Storm in 1991, Patriots Day storm in 2007, along with many others I covered since I took the deep dive into forecasting in January 2012. The Shoreline Annihilator Storms of January 2024 is how I will remember this one-two obliteration. Every ocean storm going forward will be concerning. What defenses were left after Wednesday's storm were mostly eliminated after Saturday. It's tough as a forecaster. You see the train coming. You know full well there is nothing that can stop it. You do your best to prepare the public for what is coming. You know that lives, property, and the geography are going to change. Cherished locations that have been part of many generations will be lost. The hardest part is watching it all verify. It's going to hurt for a while. There will be anger and finger pointing, and all kinds of political and scientific agenda football that will be played out in the time ahead as a result of these two storms. We will clean up, rebuild, and move on. For those of us who live in shoreline communities like me, we're going to need to do it together. In the worst can come the best out of people. I look forward to seeing how we all rally together. That is what makes Maine great. I am going to do my part and keep an eye on the weather. The active pattern continues. Gnarly snow squalls on tap for Sunday A sharp cold front is expected to pass through New England today. There is no such thing as a Snow Squall Watch, but by reading this, you know the threat exists. Given the fact that this is a holiday weekend and folks are travelling out and about, the National Weather Service offices that serve the six states could trigger localized Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) on smartphones and an alert tone on NOAA weather radio. In my area Saturday, a localized WEA was activated for storm surge. Some folks got it, others did not. I understand these things can be annoying, and people get frustrated and shut them off. This is a day where you need to turn them back on if you are one of those, especially if you are out and about. Check your phones. For iPhones. click here and follow the instructions. For Android, click here and do the same.  Sunday Noon to Monday Midnight - Wind speeds will pick up Sunday as the front approaches. There appears to be just enough moisture and convective energy ahead of the front to touch off some gnarly snow squalls. All areas have a chance of getting one. Quick bursts of heavy snow along with wind gusts 35-45 mph is like driving into a blizzard. White out conditions, rapid accumulations of upwards of 1"+ as the hourly snowfall loop above indicates. Roads will become slick and fast, along with visibility reduced to feet. Stay on alert if you are driving. This could be a potentially dangerous situation on the roads. NorEaster Tuesday night into Wednesday to bring snow Tuesday 7 AM to Wednesday 7 AM - Another quick hitter on the way, The phasing of the polar jet and the subtropical jet comes a bit late for a significant storm, but snow is likely, and enough of it that could impact the Tuesday evening commute, along with overnight travel. The storm should be clear by Wednesday morning.  First call here subject to revision which I will update on Monday morning. Light and fluffy is the consistency. There is not a whole lot of moisture with this, but it will puff up. The closer to the coast, the chances are good for 3". Easy move with a leaf blower. Cold enough where it gets compacted where it could be slick as glass in untreated areas. Coastal Washington County could get a half a foot out this. Another storm on Friday Ensemble ideas are widely scattered, but the ensemble mean indicates the potential for another repeat of Tuesday night into Wednesday. It's too early to get into specifics. other than the fact there will be plenty of cold air around so it will likely be an all snow event. Stay tuned. Temperature outlookI haven't posted these in awhile because of the lack of confidence given the pattern last week. Confidence is better now. The Big Chill over the Midwest tracks east, but it will modify as it enters our area. We'll have some cold starts though, but it is mid-January and it comes with the territory. The pattern shifts to a milder one as we head into the latter part of the month.     The string of early starts to keep you updated continues Thank you to Allspeed Cyclery & Snow in Portland, Downeast Aerial Photography in Rockland, Dutch Elm Golf Club in Arundel, and Sunrise Property Services in Bridgton, for partnering with Pine Tree Weather. Special thanks to all the individuals who financially contribute. I sincerely appreciate your support. Always have MULTIPLE ways to receive weather alerts. Stay updated, stay on alert, and stay safe! - Mike PRINT MEDIA: Feel free to quote and cite my work here for your stories. Please give me the professional courtesy of knowing that you are referencing my material so I can read your final product and acknowledge it on my media and link it on the Who I Am page here on the website. Feel free to send me a message via the Facebook page or Twitter (X) to get my phone number if necessary. Thank you! NOTE: The forecast information depicted on this platform is for general information purposes only for the public and is not designed or intended for commercial use. For those seeking pinpoint weather information for business operations, you should use a private sector source. For information about where to find commercial forecasters to assist your business, please message me and I will be happy to help you. |
Mike Haggett
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